Benue APC crisis deepens as dissolved exco nominates candidates for LG polls

The faction of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Benue led by Augustine Agada has nominated 23 candidates as chairs for state’s LGA polls fixed for October 5.

The faction loyal to George Akume, secretary to the government of the federation (SGF), also presented 276 candidates for positions of councillors in the various wards of the state.

A statement from Agada’s office on Monday said the exercise – congresses – to elect the candidates took place on Saturday and the process was “peaceful”.

In Gboko and Otukpo LGAs, Basil Yina and Oleho Augustine were elected to represent the APC as LG chairs respectively.

CRISIS IN BENUE APC

The Agada-led faction was recently dissolved by the national working committee (NWC) and replaced with a caretaker committee despite a restraining order stopping it from doing so.

Apart from the Agada-led faction, there is also a Benjamin Omakolo-led faction loyal to Hyacinth Alia, governor of Benue.

In March, Alia inaugurated the Omakolo-led faction after Agada was suspended from his ward at Ehaje and a court restrained him from parading himself as chair of APC in Benue.

The rift between Akume and Alia has led to a power tussle between both factions of the party in the state.

The Agada-led faction is currently in court seeking to enforce the order restraining the national leadership of the party from disbanding it.